Yves Marie Stuart Roche, coordinator of the AFD Mobile School Project speaks at Women's Day Event

On March 8, 2010 three thousand women gathered at the Aristide Foundation to mark International Women’s Day, under the banner “Women of Haiti say, Haiti will not Die”. These women, coming from all over the greater Port-au-Prince area, mobilized both to honor those who were lost in the quake, to affirm life for those who survived, and to affirm their right to participate fully in the rebuilding of their country.

3000 women gathered at the AFD for International Women's Day

Dr. Jessie Pierre Louis, the Medical Director of the University of the Aristide Foundation noted that in the wake of this massive disruption in the lives of all Haitians, it was the time as never before for the women of Haiti to bond together for their liberation. Far from being powerless victims, she called upon them to be ingenious and courageous, to become the engine of Haiti’s rebirth. She called on the women of Haiti, and women around the world, to echo the call of those gathered at the Foundation for the return of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his family to their homeland at this time of national need. (the full text of her remarks in French and Creole is below.)

An ecumenical service honoring the victims of the earthquake was led by Father Freddy Elie of the Parish of Fleuriot de Tabarre and Pastor Evens Dorelien of the Baptist Church of Lillavois. The program featured music by COLOMBE D’OR, the choir of the Aristide Foundation, made of of young people from the Tabarre area.

As part of the program the Foundation announced the beginning of a series of free primary care clinics, the first of which was held in the auditorium of the Foundation on Wednesday March 10th.

After the ceremony all the women present received a bag of food supplies to take home. Most of these women are living in refugee encampments around Port-au-Prince–all of them are struggling to feed their families under these incredibly difficult circumstances.

FET MANMAM – Mother’s Day in Haiti

Every year on the last Sunday of May (Haitian Mother’s Day) the Aristide Foundation for Democracy, holds a special event to honor mothers. Sunday May 30 the AFD welcomed 3,500 women to the auditorium of the Foundation for a very special day of communion and solidarity-- to offer solace, and encouragement, and a chance to speak out to women representing mothers across Haiti. Read More.

Mobile Schools

A Cathartic Easter

On Easter Sunday, Kolonb Dor, the choral and dance troupe of the Aristide Foundation offered a concert at the auditorium of the AFD, attended by 1250 people. The performance included at dramatic re-enactment of the earthquake and libera (opening of the doors to the next world) for the dead. Read More Here.

Not Too Soon for Mental Health Workers

Read Leah James article on Mental Health care work with the AFD and in refugee camps in Haiti on the Huffington Post here.